Contemporary Photography

The Do’s and Don’ts

The DoÃ¢s and DonÃ¢ts of Graduate Studies: Maxims from the Chair from the book The Education of a Photographer by Charles H Traub, Chair at School of Visual ArtsÃ¢ MFA Photography, Video and Related Media Department in New York.

The DoÃ¢s

Do something old in a new way Do something new in an old way Do something new in a new way, Whatever works . . trade show booth display . pennsylvania foundation repair . . appliance repair in atlanta . works Do it sharp, if you canÃ¢t, call it art Do it in the computerÃ¢if it can be done there Do fifty of themÃ¢you will definitely get a show Do it big, if you cant do it big, do it red If all else fails turn it upside down, if it looks good it might work Do Bend your knees If you donÃ¢t know what to do, look up or downÃ¢but continue looking Do celebritiesÃ¢if you do a lot of them, youÃ¢ll get a book Connect with othersÃ¢network Edit it yourself Design it yourself Publish it yourself Edit, When in doubt shoot more Edit again Read Darwin, Marx, Joyce, Freud, Einstein, Benjamin, McLuhan, and Barth See Citizen Kane ten times Look at everythingÃ¢stare Construct your images from the edge inward If itÃ¢s the Ã¢real world,Ã¢ do it in color If it can be done digitallyÃ¢do it Be self centered, self involved, and generally entitled and always pushingÃ¢and damned to hell for doing it Break all rules, except the chairmanÃ¢s

The DonÃ¢ts

DonÃ¢t do it about yourselfÃ¢or your friendÃ¢or your family DonÃ¢t dare photograph yourself nude DonÃ¢t look at old family albums DonÃ¢t hand color it DonÃ¢t write on it DonÃ¢t use alternative processÃ¢if it ainÃ¢t straight do it in the computer DonÃ¢t gild the lilyÃ¢AKA less is more DonÃ¢t go to video when you donÃ¢t know what else to do DonÃ¢t photograph indigent people, particularly in foreign lands DonÃ¢t whine, just produce